Relação entre intensidade da dor no complexo lombopélvico, autoeficácia e funcionalidade em gestantes de risco habitual: um estudo piloto

Abstract

Introduction: During pregnancy, women are subjected to numerous biological, psychological and social changes that can result in pain, especially in the lumbopelvic region, affecting their self-efficacy and functionality. Objective: To analyze the relationship between the intensity of pain in the lumbopelvic complex, self-efficacy and functionality in pregnant women of usual risk. Methodology: This is a pilot study, developed through a virtual environment (Google Meet and Google Forms) from January to October 2022. The study population consisted of pregnant women from any location in Brazil, with a sample of 38 pregnant women. The following instruments were used for data collection: the assessment form, the Visual Numerical Scale (E.V.A), the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0, 36-question version). Data were stored and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS, IBM, version 20.0). Descriptive (mean or median, standard deviation or 25-75 percentiles, absolute and relative frequencies) and inferential (Pearson or Spearman correlation tests) measures were used. A P<0.05 was adopted. Results: The mean chronological and gestational age of the sample were, respectively: 26.50±4.49 years and 33.05±4.52 weeks. The average numbers of pregnancy and childbirth were 1.39±0.54 (minimum 1 to maximum 3) and 0.39±0.54 (minimum 0 to maximum 2). In general, there was a variation of 1 to 60 points in the participants' self-efficacy, according to the PSEQ. In addition, a moderate disability was observed by the WHODAS, with higher scores for domestic activities (severe), mobility (severe) and self-care (moderate). No significant relationship was found between self-efficacy and functionality, when considering low back and pelvic pain separately. However, a moderate, negative and significant relationship was identified between the variables analyzed when pain was located in the lumbopelvic region. Conclusion: The study results suggest that there is no relationship between self-efficacy and functionality when considering pain in the lumbar and pelvic regions separately. However, there is a moderate, negative and significant relationship between the variables, when considering pain in the lumbopelvic region. That is, the greater the self-efficacy, the better the functionality (or vice versa).